Popularity of drones in agriculture set to rise

They sound like a big mosquito, look like a remote controlled toy and cost around $45,000.

Yes, unmanned aerial vehicles or drones are certainly increasing their presence in agriculture

But with a number of cheaper versions now hitting the marketplace, is the drone reputation being tarnished?

Not according to Lyndon McGreggor, who's company, Think Spatial, is currently flying an AUV for the Esperance port link corridor project and mapping farms as well.

Lyndon says any exposure for the technology is a good thing.

"It good, its giving more exposure to aerial flight, and small craft areal flight," he says.

"It's the nature of technology in that everything get cheaper the more people use it, you never know you might see in five years time every farm has one of these going out in the morning to take images or see the health of their crop."

But chief controller, Caitlin Jackson says at the moment it's a long, expensive process to get the data that farmers are looking for.

"So I did a private pilot's licence, the theory component, and I passed the test and I have to be proficient in aircraft radio operation as well," she says.

"I suppose the hardest part (of flying the drone) is the preparation, making sure if you need any approvals you've got those in place, making sure the weather's not too windy, so it's more preparation and making sure everything is safe."